Music That Peeks Behind the Veil

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Women in Iran are prohibited from singing solo in public. But they're everywhere in pop music. Today, we explore the underground market for female singers in the Islamic republic. Also: Composer John Corigliano is among the few "serious" contemporary composers whose appeal has reached beyond the new-music crowd. As he turns 70 this month, we catch up with the Brooklyn-born composer, who is being honored with a festival at the Brooklyn Philharmonic.

Rehearsal Space Photo Contest -- LAST DAY! Submit your practice space photo before midnight tonight for your chance to win a free copy of Apple's Logic Studio software bundle. NOTE: You're encouraged to email your submission. Click below for details.

Photo Contest: Show Us Your Rehearsal Space!

Russia's Rock Underground

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Life for rock musicians in Soviet-era Russia was tough enough. Then came glasnost, freedom — and a whole new set of problems. Today on Soundcheck, the saga of the Russian rock band DDT. Later: choreographer Trisha Brown is known for a fluid and geometric style. Now she's delving into the world of robots. Plus: Soundcheck's CD Picks of the Week.

Musicians! Show us your space! Starting today, enter Soundcheck's first-ever Rehearsal Space Photo Contest for your chance to win a free copy of Apple's Logic Studio software bundle. Click below for details.

Photo Contest: Show Us Your Rehearsal Space!

Tabloid TV Inspires a Musical

Monday, January 28, 2008

The award-winning London musical "Jerry Springer: The Opera" comes to Carnegie Hall this week on a wave of controversy and critical acclaim. Today, the musical's director previews its outrageous mix of biblical characters, raunchy arias and tap-dancing Klansman. Also: author Adam Langer shares his third novel, "Ellington Boulevard: A Novel in A-Flat," which tells the story of one apartment during the boom years in city real estate. Finally: rocker Eric Bachmann performs music from his debut solo album, recorded while living in the back of his van (voluntarily).

On Tour ... in Your Living Room

Friday, January 25, 2008

The videogame Rock Band lets wannabes indulge their rock 'n' roll fantasies. Today on Soundcheck: Carrie Brownstein of the indie group Sleater Kinney compares Rock Band to the real thing. And, NY1 technology reporter Adam Balkin explains the appeal of music games and their impact on the music industry. Later: gospel legends The Blind Boys of Alabama join us for a live performance.

Musicians! Show us your space! Starting today, enter Soundcheck's first-ever Rehearsal Space Photo Contest for your chance to win a free copy of Apple's Logic Studio software bundle. Click below for details.

Photo Contest: Show Us Your Rehearsal Space!

Clear Skies with a 90 Percent Chance of Smooth Jazz

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Airs weekdays at 2PM on 93.9 FM
For years the Weather Channel has earned a cult following for the smooth jazz played during its "Local on the 8’s" forecasts. Today: hear the hot and cool sounds featured on the channel's first CD. Also: the story behind "Elmer Gantry," a new American opera based on the Sinclair Lewis novel, which gets its local premiere this week in Montclair, NJ.

Musicians! Show us your space! Starting today, enter Soundcheck's first-ever Rehearsal Space Photo Contest for your chance to win a free copy of Apple's Logic Studio software bundle. Click below for details.

Photo Contest: Show Us Your Rehearsal Space!

Cutting Costs, Cutting Records

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Airs weekdays at 2PM on 93.9 FM
EMI Group is cutting a third of its staff, yet it continues to reap rewards from a back catalogue that includes The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden and David Bowie. We’ll find out how new artists will fare at the new EMI. Also: British singer-songwriter Jack Penate performs live in our studio.

Show us your space! Starting today, enter Soundcheck's first-ever Rehearsal Space Photo Contest for your chance to win a free copy of Apple's Logic Studio software bundle. Click below for details!

Photo Contest: Show Us Your Rehearsal Space!

Classical Music's Perfect Pitch

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Classical music was once used by advertisers to convey elegance and luxury. Increasingly, it signals humor and fun. Today, a look at how advertisers use Mozart to sell sneakers and Verdi to hawk televisions. Our guests include Karl Jenkins, a composer whose works span both the concert stage and ads for companies like Delta and Debeers. Also: Jazz bassist Ben Allison and the members of his quintet, Man-Size Safe, perform live in our studio.

Spilling Ink Over Music

Monday, January 21, 2008

The "Best Music Writing 2007" anthology covers everything from the brilliance of Beyonce Knowles to something called "Bulgarian Idol." Today, novelist Jonathan Lethem talks about his profile of James Brown and Pitchfork Media's Nitsuh Abebe shares his portrait of songwriter Daniel Johnston. And, the book's guest editor, Bob Christgau, explains how he selected the cream of the critics. Plus: veteran soul singer Angie Stone was among the first signees to the revived Stax label. She performs live in our studio. This is a repeat edition of Soundcheck

Coach Potatoes

Friday, January 18, 2008

Commercial airlines are replacing hot meals and pretzels with iPod docks and pay-per-view movies. Today on Soundcheck, find out why passengers are getting more in-flight entertainment, with Internet access looming on the horizon. Plus: Moldy Peaches co-founder Kimya Dawson talks about helping craft the sound of the hit movie Juno.

Pumping Up the Music Biz

Thursday, January 17, 2008

50 Cent, Timbaland and Mary J. Blige are among the artists linked to shipments of steroids in a newspaper story citing confidential sources. Today, we examine what attracts musicians to performance-enhancing drugs and why the public has become conditioned to think that they're for athletes only. Also: Vocalist and composer Sofia Koutsovitis mixes music from her native Argentina with sounds from Peru, Brazil, and American jazz. She and her band join us for a live performance.

Show us your space! Starting today, enter Soundcheck's first-ever Rehearsal Space Photo Contest for your chance to win a free copy of Apple's Logic Studio software bundle. Click below for details!

Photo Contest: Show Us Your Rehearsal Space!

They're Creepy and They're Kooky

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Themes from classic television shows are among the most memorable songs ever recorded, yet few modern shows open with one. Today on Soundcheck: Find out what happened to the TV theme song. Also: keyboardist Marco Benevento of the indie instrumental Benevento Russo duo talks about his new solo album and performs live in our studio.

How the West is Sung

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

The revival of Hollywood westerns means the return of the genre's classic iconography - fearless gunslingers, ruthless outlaws, tumbleweeds. It also means some increasingly unconventional musical scores. Today, we explore the changing sound of the movie western - from the classic era of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood to revivals like "3:10 to Yuma" AND "There Will Be Blood." Also: singer-songwriter Tyler Ramsey shares his latest album "Swimming Across the Sea," and performs live in our studio.

Plug a Leak, Find a Colleague

Monday, January 14, 2008

The recording industry is cracking down on leaked music – songs that hit the Internet before they’re officially released. Today on Soundcheck: Find out how music leaks start, who's doing the leaking, and what's being done about it. And later, a live performance from pianist Michael Riesman. Plus: Soundcheck's CD Picks of the Week.

New Artists Shaping World Music

Friday, January 11, 2008

Two major World Music festivals taking place in New York this weekend show how far global sounds are traveling. Today, we find out how a younger generation of performers is creating hybrid works using styles from around the globe. We also find out how older artists are showing why they're hip once again. Joining us are four guests: veteran Algerian DJ Cheb-i-Sabbah, radio host Banning Eyre, young composer-drummer Lukas Ligeti, and 84-year-old Dominican musician Puerto Plata.

Drowning in Sound

Thursday, January 10, 2008

A revolution in recording technology is producing CDs that sound louder than those made just 10 or 15 years ago. But something’s getting lost in the mix. Today on Soundcheck: a look at the "loudness wars" inside the music industry. Plus: soprano Christine Schäfer shares her gender-bending take on Schubert songs. And: the music of the acclaimed TV show "The Wire."

The Plight of the Hotel Musician

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Hotel musicians are an essential part of New York's musical landscape but lately they've come under threat. The Four Seasons Hotel discontinued solo piano music after more than 10 years. The Café Pierre was shut down for renovations. Others are going condo. Grab your cocktail as we talk with two cabaret-watchers: pianist Rich Jenkins and journalist Will Friedwald. Also: Canadian songwriter Basia Bulat tells us if using her student loans to pay for a debut album was worth all the buzz she's getting. The occasional autoharpist joins us for a live performance.

Getting a Kick Out of Ethel

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Before Ethel Merman became a Broadway legend, she was just another stenographer from Astoria, Queens. Then, she met a couple of guys named George and Ira Gershwin. Today on Soundcheck: the story of Ethel Merman. And later: the Now Ensemble makes its case for chamber music in the 21st century. Plus: Blender magazine names artists to watch in 2008.

From Courtroom Dramas to Musical Drama

Monday, January 07, 2008

Alan Dershowitz is best known as a Harvard law professor, best-selling author, and attorney who has defended prominent clients like OJ Simpson, Claus von Bulow and Mike Tyson. Today he talks about his latest project: composing his first opera. Also: Who says Arnold Schoenberg is scary? Composer and music commentator Rob Kapilow makes the case for the 12-tone composer's string sextet "Verklarte Nacht" as the last great piece of Romantic music. Finally: The Soundcheck staff's CD picks of the week.

Beatles for Sale

Friday, January 04, 2008

The company that owns Beatles copyrights is now licensing their most famous tunes. Today, find out why the most valuable (and fiercely protected) back catalogue in music history will be turning up in more movies, TV ads, and Hip Hop Tracks. And later: we speak with a professor whose ultra-rare folk music field recordings have just been released as a boxed set.

Who's Afraid of Céline Dion?

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Céline Dion is one of the most successful singers in the world, yet she has few fans among music critics. Today on Soundcheck, find out if one critic changed his mind after immersing himself in Dion's music for months. And later: Brooklyn-based band Via Audio scored a top-notch producer the old fashioned way: they pressed a CD into the palm of Spoon drummer and producer Jim Eno. They perform live in our studio.

When Country Wasn't Cool

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Long before Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson, a cadre of small-town preachers, hell-raisers, cowboys and blind men were among the first to record what we now know as country music. Today: a look at the evolution of the genre and its unsung heroes. Plus: Grammy nominated banjoist Tony Trischka brings bluegrass to our studio.

Is Communism Good for the Arts?

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Communist regimes are responsible for some of the world’s worst civil rights abuses. They also produced Shostakovich symphonies, Milos Forman films, and Chinese ballet. Today on Soundcheck: we look at whether Communism is good -- or bad -- for arts. Also: Jazz pianist Kenny Werner performs in our studio. This is a repeat broadcast.